Pelargonium plant named ‘Dueparest’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Ivy  Geranium  plant named ‘Dueparest’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; red and pink bi-colored double flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium peltatum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEPAREST’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of IvyGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dueparest’.

The new Ivy Geranium plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutationof a proprietary selection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as codenumber E-16-18, not patented. The new Ivy Geranium plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within apopulation of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ivy Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany since May, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this newIvy Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dueparest’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dueparest ’as a new and distinct cultivar ofIvy Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Red and pink bi-colored double flowers.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selection in flower color as plants of the parent selection havesolid red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Ivy Geranium can be compared to plants of Pelargoniumpeltatum ‘Duepared’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,236. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of thenew Ivy Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Duepared’ in plantsize as plants of the new Ivy Geranium were broader than plants of‘Duepared’. In addition, plants of the new Ivy Geranium and ‘Duepared’differed in flower color as plants of ‘Duepared’ had red-coloredflowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Ivy Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Ivy Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Dueparest’ grown in a 10.5-cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany in aglass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial production. During the production of theplants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levelsaveraged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks afterplanting. Plants had been growing for two months when the photograph andthe description were taken. In the detailed description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium peltatum ‘Dueparest’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary    selection of Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number E-16-18,    not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth            habit; freely basal branching habit with about three basal            branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 19 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 16 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 3.3 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent.            Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 6.6 cm.        -   Width.—About 6.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Peltate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 144A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A; venation,            close to 144A. Zonation pattern: Not observed.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 5.6 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.            Umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong            peduncles. Flowers face upright to outward.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 14            flowers per umbel.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 46B and 56B.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five or six. Length:            About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: Mostly            flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Center,            close to 55B; towards the margins, close to 46B; venation,            close to 46B; color towards the margins becoming closer to            46C with development. When opening and fully opened, lower            surface: Center, close to 56B; towards the margins, close to            46B; venation, close to 46B.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About five to six. Length:            About 2.2 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Center, close to 55B;            towards the margins, close to 46B; venation, close to 46B;            color towards the margins becoming closer to 46C with            development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Center, close to 56B; towards the margins, close to 46B;            venation, close to 46B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 9.7 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.3 cm.            Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About six. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.            Anther color: Close to 60A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Parted.            Stigma color: Close to 59A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style            color: Close to 2D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Ivy    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Ivy Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about    5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Ivy Geranium plant named ‘Dueparest’ asillustrated and described.